La Grange Church Loan Discrepancies Explained

LA GRANGE, IL — Earlier this month, La Grange Patch listed the federal loans of more than $150,000 that were given to La Grange businesses and organizations under the Payroll Protection Program, which aimed to reduce the impact of pandemic-related closures. This information was provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

One Patch reader noted two La Grange churches received loans based on far more employees than are listed under the staff sections of their websites.

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St. Francis Xavier Parish and School received a loan in the $350,000-to-$1 million category that was based on retaining 117 jobs. But the organization's website lists 66 employees.

First United Methodist Church, which received a loan ranging from $150,000 to $350,000, was listed as retaining 51 jobs. Yet the church's website documents a staff of 10.

In an email to Patch, the Rev. Bill Tkachuk of St. Francis Xavier Parish said his organization hires many part-time employees who are not listed online. Those on the website consist of the full-time staff of the parish and school — the parish ministry and support staff, and elementary school teachers and administration.

"These people account for most of our regular payroll expense," Tkachuk said. "However, a significant number of the individuals on our payroll provide a wide variety of support services to our parish and school on a regular part-time basis. We do not list their names on our website, but they are critical to the operation of the parish and school. And we pay payroll taxes to the IRS for all 117 individuals that were included on our (Payroll Protection Program) loan application."

Tkachuk said this information with detailed data was submitted to the bank as part of the loan application process.

"One condition of the loan was that no one on our payroll would be furloughed or let go. Therefore, we were required to account for and include everyone on our regular payroll," Tkachuk said in the email. "Having a significant number of part-time workers is a critical part of what we do, even if their hourly pay comprises a small part of our overall payroll. We are grateful for their contribution."

In a phone interview, Sue Simek, financial coordinator for First United Methodist Church, said the difference between the federal information and her church's online staff list also involved part-time employees not on the website.